Vocation refers to an inclination to pursue a particular activity or a career. A vocation may also refer to a divine calling by God or a call to serve God's purposes. In general, a vocation simply refers to a calling. The story of Joseph in the Bible brings out the aspect of vocation in the religious context. Joseph, being his father's favorite, was hated by his ten brothers. While his brothers planned to kill Joseph or make him disappear from their lives, God had other plans for Joseph. God, through one of the brother, made the others agree to sell Joseph to the merchants who were headed to Egypt. Genesis chapter 37, verse 28 records; ‘they handed over Joseph to the Ishmaelites who paid them twenty pieces of silver'. They then went home and made their father believe that an animal had killed Joseph.
In Egypt, Joseph having been sold to a wealthy man quickly rose from a slave to one of the highest ranks in that country. Genesis chapter 41:40 records; ‘You will oversee my household and all my people will submit to your rulings; only I, the king, shall be greater than you.’ Joseph, through his wisdom bestowed on him by God, helped rescue Egypt from a terrible famine which he had prophesied (Redford, 1970). Soon, his brothers came looking for food in Egypt due to the famine. Through Joseph, Jacob and all his people came to live in Egypt, the only land which had food during that time. The act of selling Joseph to Egypt was indeed a calling for Joseph by God. God had masterminded a great plan, one which would ensure that the descendants of Israel survived the famine to come, live and multiply and later come back to Canaan.
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Reference
Redford, D. B. (1970). A study of the biblical story of Joseph:(Genesis 37-50) (Vol. 20). Brill Archive.
